Improvement in slate-frames



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ALLEN MILLER, OF PATERSON, NEW'JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN SLATE-FRAMES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 164,019, dated June 1,1875;application filed April 17, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WM. ALLEN MILLER, of the city of Paterson, in thecounty of Fassaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Slate- Frames; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which willenable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in slate-frames, wherebyI provideupon or within the frame a convenient and safe means of carrying andpreserving the pencil. It consists in the construction and arrangementof the several parts, as hereinafter fully explained, and pointed out inthe claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective, and Fig. 2 a longitudinalsectional, view of a slate-frame with my invention attached, and havinga pencil inserted. Fig. 3 is a detail view, with pencil removed; andFigs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail views of a modification of my invention.

a is a groove formed in the edge or side of a slate-frame. It is made ofsuitable dimensions to receive the pencil, and allow the latter to slidefreely therein. One end is countersunk, and recessed to receive thespring, hereinafter described, and the point of the pencil. The other isbeveled or sloped to the surface of the frame, with a long incline, asshown at a, to facilitate the issue or removal of the pencil therefrom.b is the pencil. c is a spring, placed in the countersunk end of thegroove to. It has one end fixed to the bottom of the countersink d byany suitable means. Its other end curves upward toward the outer surfaceof the frame, and holds the pencil, as hereinafter described. d is arecess formed in frame at the end of the groove a, to receive thepencil-point and the flexible end of the spring 0. It affords perfectprotection from injury for both the penci1-point and the spring. 9 is anopen sleeve, which may be formed on and as a part of the spring 0; or itmay be made distinct and separate'from the spring, and secured in thegroove to by its own fastening. It is placed near the fixed end of thespring 0. It is so constructed as to receive and hold larger or smallerpencils, its sides springin g apart to admit the former. The frame issuitably mortised or countersunk to receive it in proper place.

hen a small pencil is inserted, it will be held by the action of thespring 0 pressing it up against the top of the sleeve. Large pencils maybe held by the sleeve g alone.

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show a modification of my invention, in which I use abarrel, h, formed in the frame, with an opening and countersink, f, inwhich is placed the spring. The end of the barrel near the fixed end ofthe spring performs the same function with reference to the spring asthe sleeve in Figs. 1, 2,

and 3.

Any suitable form may be given to the spring. In Fig. 6 is shown a formand mode of securing the spring in the groove, by which the use of tacksor pins is dispensed with.

In use, the pencil is placed in the groove. The frame is then slightlyinclined, when the pencil will, by its own gravity, pass into or throughthe sleeve, and will be held in place. The pencil may be readily removedby gently pressing downward with the finger against the end of thepencil and spring, and pushing the former back and beyond the sleeve,when, if the slate be inclined, the pencil may be dis charged into thehand.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

The combination,with the groove a, having the long bevel or incline a,and countersink d, of the recess 61, spring 0, and sleeve g, for thepurposes specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

WM. ALLEN MILLER.

Witnesses A. P. LAcEY, R. S. LAoEY.

